Old Tiller ID Help (Gearbox Shattered)

fj40dave

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B2650, LA534, BH77, TPD35, RCF2060, BB1566, RGA1258
Sep 24, 2009
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Yelm, WA
Neighbor has this old tiller he's thinking about getting rid of for scrap metal.

It looks old to me, and as the pictures show, the gear drive housing is toast.

Anyone know what make/model this might be?
I've searched the web for pictures.....no luck.
20220501_182048[1].jpg
20220501_182121[1].jpg 20220501_182414[1].jpg 20220501_182131[1].jpg
 

GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
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no idea, really sad. with the 'variety' of cover screws on it, I'm thinking water got in, turned to ice and it broke ??
 

fj40dave

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B2650, LA534, BH77, TPD35, RCF2060, BB1566, RGA1258
Sep 24, 2009
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Yelm, WA
no idea, really sad. with the 'variety' of cover screws on it, I'm thinking water got in, turned to ice and it broke ??
The owner said he was just starting to use it, and it happened ....not frfreezing out....
 

torch

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B7100HSD, B2789, B2550, B4672, 48" cultivator, homemade FEL and Cab
Jun 10, 2016
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Muskoka, Ont.
Interesting. The piece behind it looks torch cut. I wonder if it was home-made? What can be seen of the gear inside still looks healthy.

The broken piece appears to be cast grey iron and the pieces large. While notoriously difficult to weld, grey cast can be welded successfully with proper cleaning, pre-/post- heating and nickle rod. It might be worth having a local welding shop look at repairing it.
 

bird dogger

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Feb 24, 2019
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From the color and build.....it looks like it might be a very old Howard rotovator. My Howard looks like a newer model than that one.....but still there's similarities. From the looks of the exposed drive gear, it hasn't seen much use. Or the gears have been replaced.

If you can't fix the gearbox the gears sold as parts could bring you some decent cash. Parts are getting hard to find for the old Howards.
 
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bird dogger

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Kubota B2650 and lots of other equipment
Feb 24, 2019
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If you look at the top row of lettering on the rear cover, without too much imagination, I think you can even see what could possibly, somewhat, maybe, spell out "HOWARD ROTOVATOR". The last word on the top right is likely "Rotovator". The bottom row of lettering is still a mystery, though.
old rotavator (2).jpg


fj40dave, you might take a look under the top deck in either front corner.....some of them had a stamped data plate attached in that location. Seems like an odd place to put one, but they must have had their reasons.
Given your location, that bottom row of lettering could possibly spell out a dealer in MONTANA ?
 
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Tx Jim

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If all gearbox pieces were present I'd attempt to determine what caused it to fail. Correct problem & weld pieces back together & install Cornhead lube. My 7ft rotary mower gearbox has been operating with Cornhead lube in it for several yrs.

3 pt draft pins/frame appear bent indicating tiller gearbox might have hit an obstruction.
 
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